Lifestyle

This 4-bed house is our Property of the Week (Picture courtesy of Russell Killner Estate Agents, St Neots)

This immaculate house in Waterloo Road has a mega loft conversion

Highfield care home, in Avon Drive, Brickhill

People using communal lounge at care home were left in the dark

A view of the pools area at the Bahia Principe Sunlight Tenerife

Why people keep on coming back to the Bahia Principe Sunlight in Tenerife

Actor Larry Lamb launches Xmas campaign

This Christmas Frankie and Benny's pledge to be Secret Santa to vulnerable child...

Student officer Lee Rogers had dreamt of being a police officer since he was 10.

Bedfordshire Police force searching for more ‘heroes’ to serve their community

Central Beds Council

Trans woman who applied for job at council loses discrimination claim

Homes and Gardens

DWSM - 7222-001 - A typical David Wilson Home at Marston Fields

Final chance to part exchange at popular Bedfordshire development
Five star developer David Wilson Homes is encouraging local property seekers looking to part exchange to consider its sought-after Marston Fields development, before the final homes sell out.

This 4-bed house is our Property of the Week (Picture courtesy of Cooper Beard Estate Agency Limited, Bedford)

Fancy living right in the thick of it?

A view of a disused building

More empty homes in Bedford, as numbers rise in England

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 44% of households in Bedford were living in homes with a rating of 'D' or below as of March

More than two in five homes in Bedford are suffering poor energy efficiency

This 4/5-bed home is our Property of the Week (Picture courtesy of Michael Graham, Bedford)

This amazing house has its own heated outdoor pool and detached log cabin

Pets

The RSPCA is this year backing Guinea Pig Awareness Week, as it deals with a big spike in the tiny critters coming through its doors (RSPCA/Supplied)

RSPCA centres jam-packed with 'cruelly abandoned' guinea pigs

Guinea pigs can become pregnant again within hours of giving birth, and the RSPCA says breeding can quickly spiral out of control

Amber Allott

Cocker spaniels have been named the most expensive pet to own in 2023

How much it costs to be a pet parent in 2023

The Bellflower in Preston, Lancashire, won the accolade of the official best pub for dogs in the UK

Stick library and A La Barke Menu: Inside the UK’s best pub for dogs

Top Vet Tips to Keep Pets Safe & Happy This Christmas

Gemma Logan

Top 20 list of abandoned dog breeds as 50,000 dumped in three years

Top 20 abandoned breeds: List of dogs most dumped as 50,000 ditched in last three years

13 items dog owners should always take on summer walks to keep pets safe - including tick tweezers & blankets

13 items dog owners should take on summer walks to avoid emergencies

Explainer What to do if you see a dog in a hot car - the law explained

Tegu lizard that ‘runs like a T. rex’ currently on the loose

Cars & Motoring

For illustrative purposes only (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Shameless thieves nick car number plates in spate across Bedford

Andersen EV's production facilities in Stewartby

Jobs up for grabs as electric home charging company in Bedford expands

Retro & Heritage

The war memorial at Flitwick is one of seven to be listed ahead of Remembrance weekend

War memorial in Flitwick gets a Grade II listing ahead of Remembrance weekend

It’s one of seven in the East of England similarly listed by Historic England

Former place of worship in Bedford on the market with a £1.25m price tag

It’s in Barkers Lane...

Blind veteran Mike Warren ready to march at The Cenotaph

Blind veteran from Bedford returns to The Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday march

He will be joining over 40 other blind veterans

Bedford vintage suit hire business up for sale

Clare Turner

Resident in Turvey retirement village reflects on Second World War memories

“We ended up right opposite the balcony and waited for Churchill and the King and Queen to come out”...

This house Churchill used during the war will set you back £3.5m

There are 10 bedrooms and a second floor penthouse...

Staycation

Landal Kenwick Woods is set in abundant greenery as far as the eye can see.

Kenwick Woods: A hot tub break with countryside and coastline on the doorstep
Whether it’s romance, rambling or a family reunion, Landal Kenwick Woods is the ultimate woodland holiday retreat

This enchanting country house hotel offers a warm welcome and traditional hospitality.

Reconnect on a romantic spa break or friends’ reunion in the Cotswolds

Bike & Boot: Explore the countryside with stay in Peak District hotel

The AmaViola

The big differences between river and ocean cruising

Recommended

These are the best and spookiest costumes for children for Halloween 2023.

Cheap, scary Halloween costumes for kids - Wednesday and Marvel heroes

Best sleeping bags for camping: multi-season and lightweight

Best sleeping bags for camping: multi-season and lightweight

Top cabin bags and suitcases that you can carry on to an airplane

Top cabin bags that you can carry on to an airplane

More Lifestyle

Central Bedfordshire Council Leader explains the budget consultation is so important in a video on YouTube.

Cuts to services and 5% tax increase proposed by council

Action for Children said the figures are depressing, adding they show an "overstretched and underfunded" care system that is letting down vulnerable children

Bedford council looking after more lone asylum-seeking children

Use the 'Submit a Story' link to tell us your news.

Dementia charity brings Christmas joy to Bedford stores

Kensington Palace is beautiful at Christmas (photo: Historic Royal Palaces / SWNS)

Culture and festive sparkle in Kensington

The new Poundland store in Midland Road

Take a look inside as Poundland opens bumper new store in Bedford

Bedford mayor Tom Wootton at the opening of Café Connect

Queen's Park community café in Bedford offering free tea, coffee, and biscuits

Festive Football Fun Day

Festive football fun comes to Bedford College this weekend

Christmas at Wrest Park - a new interactive light trail in Bedfordshire, set in the Wrest Park estate

Wrest Park Light Trail 2023: Festive fun at new interactive Christmas event

Putt Putt Noodle

UK's top golf, drink and dining destination to invest £1 million in Bedford attr...

Office for National Statistics figures show around 1,025 businesses in Bedford ceased trading in 2022 – up from 870 the year before

More than 1,000 businesses folded in Bedford in 2022

Roberto Bosco, from AB Fruits, Richard Hill, BPHA chief executive, and Rosetta at the hub

Queen's Park Hub Café reopens in Bedford following requests from public

Most restaurants and takeaways in Bedford scored well in this latest round of inspections

One Indian restaurant needs 'some improvement' in latest food hygiene ratings

Problem of discarded inhalers (photo: Adobe)

Going Green: Inhaler disposal causes environmental blight

Evri signs in the window of a Post Office branch. Picture: Mark Dolby

Post Office branches in Bedford are now taking Evri parcels

One of the warehouses in Bedford where Kirkby Diamond has just completed three deals

Bedford Food Bank moves to bigger premises due to growing need in town

Clearglaze Ltd is on Bedford’s Elm Farm Industrial Estate

£1.9m funding at glass manufacturer creates jobs and helps double its capacity

They will resume in late February.

Garden waste collections across Central Bedfordshire suspended from next week

L-R Shanta (centre user), Fenella (Children's & Families Activity Facilitator)

Struggling community spaces in Bedford urged to apply for share of £500k fund to...